Louisas Place Beckons the Discriminating Guest to its Oasis of Calm

By Donald James Dunn

The blaring of automobile horns and screeching of tires, the constant drone of traffic, hordes of people pressing by one another as they head single-mindedly towards predetermined goals, barking dogs, a chill wind blowing, the light patter of raindrops I am unaware of all these minor nuisances as I relax in my suite at Louisas Place on the famous Kurfrstendamm in Berlin. With articles to write, meetings to schedule, phone calls to make, emails to check, people to receive and interview at the same time, in different rooms I never break into a sweat or get frazzled as all is handled with ease and comfort, and a touch of elegance, in this oasis of serenity in the centre of Berlin.

Sven Schimank, co-owner and Managing Director of this unique, fully restored and renovated 1904 turn-of-the-century villa in the heart of Berlin, describes the property as an exclusive five star Chambre dhte with individualized service for the discriminating guest who desires to be at home while travelling. And indeed, I felt as if I were quite at home during my brief but eventful stay at Louisas, a member of the Romantik Hotels and Restaurants chain.

While very brief stays at this apartment-hotel are absolutely no problem, it is ideally suited to the longer staying guest who wishes to have all the amenities of home while on the road plus the added benefit of a 24-hour personalized concierge service. There are no rooms but rather only Suites ranging from Junior through Superior and Deluxe to Grand. Each suite consists of several rooms, with sleeping quarters wholly separated from the living, bath and kitchen areas. The living area, which includes a DVD player and stereo system in addition to TV, sofa and dining table, also sports a large desk with ample space to spread out your papers and hook up your laptop computer (a very welcome amenity for those of us who need to work while we play!). And the kitchen is to die for fully outfitted with ample cupboard space, with every tool needed to prepare and serve an elegant home-cooked gourmet meal, including dishes, pots and pans, ample flatware, a ceramic hotplate stove with oven, a sizeable fridge, a coffee-maker and even a dishwasher to spare yourself the blight of dishpan hands.

And then there was that glorious shower... Fully glass-enclosed and large enough to host a party of three or four, it was the first body cleansing facility I have encountered in all my travels where I could stand with arms fully stretched out from my sides and turn 360 in a circle without hitting anything, be it a wall, the showerhead or the dish holding my shampoo. Close your eyes and imagine standing naked in an open field during a rainstorm...

If your day has been particularly harrowing, go down to the Spa and Wellness area and get a massage, take an aromatherapy steam bath or hit the sauna and sweat your cares away. Then glide into the elegant pool, swim a few laps and afterwards relax on a comfortable chaise lounge while you dry off.

Should you care to dress for dinner and be served rather than serve yourself from your kitchen, then there is Wolters, a wholly separate restaurant yet fully integrated within the structure of Louisas. The restaurant, specializing in French Grande Cuisine, shares its kitchen with Louisas and as such can also handle most Room Service desires on an individualized basis. But if you are a passionate hobby-cook and wish to take advantage of that gorgeous home away from home kitchen in your suite, then there is a Delicatessen-Bistro gourmet food shop right next door.

Breakfast in Europe, and especially in German Hotels, and most certainly at Louisas, is a sumptuous affair. It should not be rushed, but rather enjoyed to the full. Served in the Gartenzimmer (Garden Room) with a tranquil view of Louisas inner courtyard, you are asked if you would like an egg or two in addition to the platters of cheeses, cold-cuts, breads, fresh fruit, Quark (a very German dish something like a cross between light cream cheese and yogurt) and jams arrayed on your table (this is personalized service here dont look for a breakfast buffet!). And if your palate requires coffee different from the norm, the staff will accommodate your need and prepare the java to your particular taste.

The most important thing to remember is that everything at Louisas can be personalized to suit your particular needs. Security (all entrances are locked; a security system is built into each suite) and absolute discretion are assured (quite a few instantly recognizable international celebrities regularly stay at Louisas but I am under oath not to mention their names!). Only superlatives such as exquisite, delightful, of highest quality and absolute elegance do Louisas justice. I call it a private sanctuary, an oasis in the heart of Berlin, and here Ill stay again when next Im back in town.

Reference:
Louisas Place
Kurfrstendamm 160
D-10709 Berlin
Germany
Tel: +49 (0)30-631-030
Fax: +49 (0)30 631-03100Email:

 info@louisas-place.de
In the US, contact their representative, tma, target market America toll-free at:
1-800-650-8018